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Guam DOE awaiting normalcy before discussing makeup days

Manny Cruz, Pacific Daily News
Published 5:07 p.m. ChT Sept. 14, 2018

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Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares talks about victims of Typhoon Mangkhut finding safety and a temporary place to stay at the Tier II shelter at the Astumbo Gym.
Pacific Daily News

Jon Fernandez, the Guam Department of Education superintendent, speaks during the Guam Department of Education Rainbow Graduation 2018 at the Okkodo High School Gymnasium, July 27, 2018.(Photo: Frank San Nicolas/PDN)

Public school students and faculty could see the effects of a law passed earlier this year that amended the amount of instructional time required for Guam Department of Education students as a means of reducing unnecessary makeup days.

Lawmakers in June passed Bill 160-34, converting the requirement for 180 instructional days a year for public school students to 900 instructional hours a year for elementary school students; and 1,260 hours per year for middle and high school.

While the law doesn't change the amount of instructional time, it is intended to eliminate the need for full makeup days if the school day is cut short by an hour or two because of water or power outages or other unforeseen circumstances.

Schools must reopen first

Jon Fernandez, Guam DOE superintendent, said the conversation over makeup days won’t take place until all schools have reopened, following Typhoon Mangkhut.

“Right now, our top priority is getting all our schools back to normal. But we do know that, with the new law, we need to make sure that understand exactly how it may impact the makeup schedule,” Fernandez said. “We will convene our joint board-union calendar committee to recommend makeup days once that happens—hopefully by Monday.”

11 public schools remained closed

As of Friday afternoon, there were 11 Guam DOE schools that remained closed:

Harry S. Truman Elementary School

Inarajan Elementary School

Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School

Marcial Sablan Elementary School

Merizo Martyrs’ Memorial Elementary School

Price Elementary School

Inarajan Middle School

Luis P. Untalan Middle School

Oceanview Middle School

J.P. Torres Success Academy

Okkodo High School

According to this school year’s calendar, there are 13 non-instructional days

Concerns of scheduling makeup days

One added complication, according to Fernandez, is that one professional development day that would normally be available for a makeup day lands on Election Day, Nov. 6.

“It’s also hard to tell what will happen right now because it’s still so early in the school year,” Fernandez said. “It is more difficult to be flexible with makeup days given that there may be other weather situations or emergencies later in the year as well.”

In previous years, Fernandez said teachers and students were concerned by makeup days being scheduled the day after Thanksgiving, or during winter and spring breaks.

“During some years, Black Friday was used as a makeup day, and then subsequently declared a holiday, requiring us to reschedule,” Fernandez said. “Other than that, we are experienced in handling makeup schedules. It may not be convenient or ideal for everyone, but we look at it as a requirement in law that must be met.”

Some Guam DOE schools were used as shelters during and after Mangkhut, which has left hundreds homeless.

About 300 people staying at Astumbo shelter

About 300 people displaced by the typhoon are staying at the Astumbo Gym in a temporary shelter—these include about 90 school aged children.

Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares said the people staying at the shelter need items such as water, clothing, shoes, toiletries and ready-to-eat food.